Fabric receiver for knitting machines



April 21, 1925.

G. W. FITTING FABRIC RECEIVER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed June 2, 1919 INVENTOR George Z1]; FZZZZIZZ'ZQ;

WITNESSES: 6 6

Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

3 UNITED STATES enonen w. FITTING, or MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

FABRIC RECEIVER FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed me e, slaseriai No. 301,266. Renewed. September 16, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates .to fabric receivers for knitting machines and is more especially directed to that type of receivers useful in connection with circular hosiery knitting machines, wherein the receiver moves with the needle CYllllClGl during both rotary and oscillatory knitting.

. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a receiver of the above class constructed of transparent material so that the fabric produced by the machine is visible practically from the source of formation,

whereby, in the event of any incidental iniperfections in the web, the machine may be instantly stopped and the di'tiiculty obviated l'ie'fore a large amount of waste is formed.

The invention is further directed to the ,IHGHJIS whereby the transparent receiver as in o scillatory knitting.

The structure whereby I attain the results above set forth will be best understood from the following drawings.

In the drawings, Fig.

a fabric receiver for a circular knitting machine conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II, is an axial sectional view through a portion of the same.

The fabric receiver herein shown 155 of the usual configuration in that it comprises a storage receptacle 1, and a tubular prolongation 2, through which the fabric is guided toward the storage receptacle. The device as a whole is adapted to move in unison with the needle cylinder, both in rotary and oscillatory knitting, so as to prevent the twisting of the fabric as it accumulates in the receptacle. Accordingly, the upper end of the tubular portion 2, is attached by means of screws 3, 3, either directly to the needle cylinder, or to a member attached to the latter, such as is conventionally represented at 4, in

I, is an elevation of Fig. I. The structure is rot-atively supported at its lower end by abearing 5, which re ceives a central stud (3, projecting downwardly from the bottom of the receptacle 1, in co-axial alignment with the needle cylinder. i

Associated with the receiver are co-operative take up rolls 7, 7, which feed the fabric downwardly to the receptacle 1. Theie rolls are inter-geared, as shown, so as to be positively driven and may be arranged for intermittent actuation in any approved manner known to the art to which the invention pertains.

Ordinarily, the tubular prolongation 2, of the receiver is constructed of thin sheet metal, but in the present instance, I have substituted a tube 8, of transparent material, preferably glass. To the upperend of the transparent tube is attacheda ferrule 9, having an integral intermediatev enlarged band 10, from which project the lugs 11, 1]., whereby attachment to the rotating member lz, is effected by means of the screws 3, 3, as already noted. q

As shown in l ig. II. the ferrule 9, is not directly attached to the glass tube, a resilient sleeve 153, of suitable material, preferably rubber, being interposed. In order to afford a substantial joint which will re sist the tendency to relative motion of the constituent parts, the following procedure as to assemblage has been found highly advantageous. The resilient sleeve 12, is first soaped and moistened on both sides and thence slipped, under tension, over the tube end. The ferrule is in turn subsequently forced into the position shown. After drying, the joint constituted as above, is rendered thoroughlycapable of withstanding the severe torsional strains attending the operation of the device in practice, especial ly in the sudden reversals of motion in oscillatory knitting. If desired, a further strengthening of the joint may be obtained by stretching an elastic band 1.3, also proferably of rubber, about the tube 8, and arranging the same to overlap the lower or inner end of the ferrule 9. This band 13, is initially coated internally with soap, and moistened previous to its application, for a purpose analogous to that previously described.

The lower end of the tube is attached in a like manner to the neck portion 14, of

the receptacle 1. This joint is so clearly shown in Fig. 11, as to obviate separate d tailed description.

It is to be noted that the glass tube is not in direct contact with the metallic parts with which it is associated at either of its ends, so that the interposed resilient sleeves 12, whilst serving primarily in the capacity of binders, are further functional in absorbing the shocks attending the practical operation of the device. Furthermore, the in terposed resilient sleeves are of such width as to afford ample surface to insure strong tenacious joints, so that the rotary and 0s cillatory movements of the needle cylinder are transmitted to the receiver without danger of disruption.

By reason of the transparency of the tubular portion of the receiver all the way around, the operator of the knitting ma chine will be enabled to see the fabric within a comparatively short distance from the point of its formation even when the cylinder is rotating rapidly, so that any imperfections may be instantly detected and the machine stopped until the source of the trouble is obviated, thereby avoiding the production of large quantities of waste and saving the time spent in production.

The tube 8, is preferably provided at intervals with openings 15, so that the fabric is accessible in order that the same may s initially directed by hand to the take up rolls.

These openings are protected by annular bushings 16, of rubber or similar resilient material, appropriately grooved peripherally, so as to be retained in place by the edges of the openings as clearly shown in Fig. Ill. These bushings, by virtue of the pliability of the rubber, may be readily inserted in place, and serve as an effective safe guard against fracture of the glass at these regions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A. fabric receiver for circular knitting machines adapted to move with the needle cylinder comprising a tube of transparent material through which the condition of the fabric is at all times visible to the operative.

2. A fabric receiver for circular knitting machines adapted to move with the needle cylinder comprising a tubular portion transparent all the way around through which the condition of the fabric adjacent the source of its formation is visible to the op crative even when the receiver is rotating rapidly.

8. A fabric receiver for circular knitting machines adapted to move with the needle cylinder comprising a portion of fragile transparent material through Which the condition of the fabric adjacent the source of les its formation is rendered visible to the operative; and means whereby said fragile transparent portion is supported with provision against fracture by shocks.

l. A fabric receiver for circular knitting machines adapted to move with the needle cylinder comprising a metallic storage receptacle; a super-imposed axial tubular pro longation of fragile, transparent material fixed to said receptacle; a. metallic ferrule fixed to the end of said prolongation whereby the receiver is attached to and suspended from the needle cylinder; and resilient means interposed at the regions of juncture of the transparent tubular prolongation with the associated parts whereby said prolongation is protected against fracture by shocks.

A fabric receiver for circular knitting machines suspended from and adapted to move with the needle cylinder, and comprising a storage receptacle with a super imposed tubular prolongation of fragile, transparent material, and a ferrule and a subjacent sleeve of resilient material embracing and firmly clamping the upper portion of said prolongation, said resilient. sleeve thus serving to protect said prolongation from shock due to movement of the storage receptacle with the needle cylinder.

(3. A fabric receiver for circular knitting machines adapted to move with the needle cylinder comprising metallic storage receptacle; a super-imposed axial tubular prolongation of fragile, transparent material lined to said receptacle; a metallic ferrule fixed to the end of said prolongation whereby the receiver is attached to the needle cylinder; resilient means interposed at the regions of juncture of the transparent tu bular prolongation with the associated parts whereby said prolongation is protected against fracture by shocks; and bands of elastic material surrounding the tubular prolongation and overlapping said associated parts at the regions of juncture.

7. A fabric receiver for circular knitting machines adapted to move with the needle cylinder comprising a tube of fragile transparent material through which the condition of the fabric is at all times visible to the operative; said tube having a number of openings to afford access to the fabric; and bushings of resilient material protecting the edges of said openings against fracture.

In witness whereof, I. have hereunto signed my name at Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey, this 26th day of May, 1919.

GEORGE W. FITTING. lVitnesses HELEN M. COMPTON, Vanna M. OLIVER. 

